Vehicle steering-gear.



S. D. & H. T. LATTY.

VEHICLE STEERING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1906.

Patented July 6, 1909.

VII

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFMJE SAMUEL D. LATTY AND HENRY T. LATTY, OI"(LEVELANIL OHIO.

VEHICLE STEERING-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1909.

Application filed November 21, 1906. Serial No. 344A24.

Vehicle Steering-Gears, of which the following' is a specification, theprinciple of the invention being herein explained and the best mode inwhich we have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguishit from other inventions.

Our invention, relating as indicated to im provcmcnts in vehiclesteering gear, has regard more particularly to the provision of animproved form of steering gear for childrens vehicles, especiallychildren's vehicles of the coaster or automobile type. lt need, however,scarcely be stated. that such invention may be applied with equallysuccessful rcsults to other vehicles of different type entirely, wherethe features of simplicity and economy in structure. and ease ofoperation presented by our steering gear are desiderata.

Said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described andparticularly set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following descripti n set forth in detailcertain means embodying: the invention. such disclosed means, however,constituting but one of va rious mechanical forms in which the principleof the invention may be used.

ln said anncxcddrawing: l igure l is a perspective view of the forwardrunning gear and the front portion of the frame of a vehicle with ourimproved steering g'ca r incorporated therein: Fig. 2 is'a view,likewise in mechanism Pl'iilfk r.

()ur invention having as its primary object the provision of a simpleform of steering mechanism for ch ldrens vehicles, we have chosen toillustrate the same in connection with a chicle of this class. in Fig. 1then, A represents the frame of such a vehicle, which may be of anysuitable construction, consisting as shown simply of side members ajoined together by means of cross bars a, Fig. 1. The forward end ofsuch frame, which alone appears in the figure in question, is pivotallysupported on front axle B disposed thereunder. The particular forwardrunning gear construction here appearing comprises as a base element atrussed axle,

already referred to as B, which consists of a spindle b to which isattached at two points intermediate of its ends an upper, arched trussmember I), this latter being supported by an intermediate truss memberIf. The object of this constructitm being to secure a suitable supportfor the fifth wheel of the vehicle, a lower bearing plate 7) is fastenedto the. top of upper truss member I), such bearme; means of two studs1)", Fig. 2.

In conjunction with the forward end of the frame which is designed topivotally rest upon the axle just described there is provided an upperbearing plate (1. complemen tary to lower bearing plate and pivotallysecured thereto by means of a king-bolt (19. Such upper bearing plate a?is provided with a plurality of cars o preferably three as shown, towhich are secured the lower ends of brace members a". 'lhese bracemembers form a sort of inverted tripod, and have their upper endsattached to the vehicle.

frame thereby supporting the same on the ii ft 1 i-whe el.

The forward running ear construction having thus been set up in detail,the steering gear which forms the subject matter of this,

our present invention, may now be readily explained.

Projectingruarwardly from lower bearing plate I) and in the samehorizontal plane there' with. is an arm 1f formed with a longitudina-llydisposcd elongated opeuingor slot 11. lt is evident, hence, thatanyn'iovemcnt of such arm will be productive of a corresponding movementon the part of trussed front axle i). To effect such movement there is\vl'llcull mounted in the vehicle frame to the perspective, of a detailof the steering gear rear of the pivotal axis formed by king-bolt if onwhich axle B turns, a steering-shaft Suitable bearings for such shaftare provided in intcrnnwlialc brace member a and in a bracket (1projecting forwardly from the point where such brace member is securedto cross bar a such bracket being in turn suitably supported upon suchbrace by a short leg (L7. The lower end of steering-shaft C is designedto be cccentrically connected with rearwardly projecting arm In. To thisend it is provided with a. short flattened arm or face plate 0 near theouter end of which is mounted a downwardly projeeting stud c thatslidably engages the slot 1) in axle arm lr". Rotation of shaft C, itwill be readily ap parent, will swing arm b through a corresponding are,the limit of such motion to either side being determined by the lengthof steering-shaft arm I Shaft 0, previously alludedto as forming beingconnected with slotted arm 6 bg mean's of a universal joint 0 By meansthis construction ofthe shaft, it will be evident that the same'isrendered substantially flexible in that the upper ortion of the shaft Cmay be inclined not on y rearwardly but to the one side or the other assuits the convenience of the steersman. Such construction has thefurther advantage that in crating the vehicle for shipment, the steeringshaft neednot be taken off, which is more or *less difficult in theconstructions ordinarily prevailing, nor need it be allowed to project,Without the crate and thereby be rendered slotted a earm b an liable toinjury in shipment.

B y describing our improved steering mechanism in connection-with theparticular form of front axle construction here shown it is not meant inany way to im ly a limitation of the same to such articular application.As has been indicate the steering gear in question may be used withequally advantageous results not onl' in various other types ofchildrens vehic es but on other vehicles of like character for thepurpose of effecting rotative movement. Such steer ing gear is not onlysimple'and economical in construction but,- also eas to manipulate"inasmuch as any desired everage ma be Secured b a proper (proportioningo the steering shaft arm 0'. In the same way it may be made impossibleforthe front axle to be turned at such an acute an le as to endangeroverturnmg the 1 vehicle or not only is the amount of turn that may bevoluntaril given to the vehicle thus'prescribed but t e axle isabsolutely held against movement beyond such limit.

obviated. At thesame time'such steeringshaft construction promotes theconvenience a 'of the user and renders the employment of our steeringgear mechanism, proper, practieable- Having thus described our inventionin 6 5 v detail, that which we particularly point out and distinctlyclaim, is: s

' l. The combination with a vehicle frame, of an axle pivotally securedbelow said frame, and a steering gear-comprising a rear- 7-0 wardlyprojecting ari'n' rigidly secured to said axleand provided with anelongated slot, a vertically disposed shaft, a rearwardly inclinedintermediate brace member and bracket for supporting said shaft, ahorizon- 75 tal rearwardly projecting arm secured tothe lowerend of saidvertical shaft, a in depending from said horizontal arm and extendinginto said slot,.and means for turning said shaft consisting of arearwardly inclined sup'p'lemental shaft connected to said verticalshaftby a universal joint ,and a hand wheel carried by said supplementalshaft.

2. The combination with a vehicle frame,' of a trussed axle pivotallysecured belowsaidframe, a plate secured to the axle truss and having arearwardly projecting arin formed with an elongated slot, a fifth wheelresting on said plate, a king-bolt connecting said plate andfifth-wheel, a vertically disposed steering shaft in rear of said fifthwheel, a rearwardlyjnclined intermediate brace member and bracket forsupporting said. shaft, a horizontal rearwardlyprojectin arm secured tothe lower end ofsardvertiea' slia'ftfzT pin depending fromsaidhorizontal arm, and

project-in into said slot, and means for turnmg saids aft;

Signed by us, this 19th day of November, 1906. Y vv SAMUEL D; LATTY.HENRYT. LATTY. Attested by-- 1). T. DAVIES,

J NO. F. OBERLIN.

